Total filings

Patent filings grew for the fifth year in a row to reach 274 174 in 2014. This was an increase of 3.1% over 2013, and the highest number ever. In terms of patent filing volumes, European companies held their ground. In 2014 roughly a third of the filings came from the EPO member states and two-thirds from outside Europe.

Analysis based on the European patent filings 2013-2014 (Direct European filings under the EPC and international filings under the PCT)
The filings have been allocated to the country of residence of the first-named applicant.
Figures are based on data from the EPO and WIPO (for PCT filings) as available on 26/01/2015. The PCT filings for 2014 are therefore estimates.
EPO: the 38 member states of the European Patent Organisation, including EU28

Filing routes

The share of international filings under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) has increased significantly over the past five years. In 2014, total filings at the EPO included close to 60 000 direct European filings under the European Patent Convention and 214 000 international filings under the PCT.

Figures are based on data from the EPO and WIPO (for PCT filings) as available on 26/01/2015. The PCT filings for 2014 are therefore estimates.

European patent filings per country of origin

Roughly a third of the total filings in 2014 came from the EPO member states and two-thirds from outside Europe. The top five countries were again the US, Japan, Germany, China and South Korea.

Looking at growth rates, patent filings from European countries rose slightly, with the performance of individual countries varying greatly. Among the large economies, China showed the biggest increase (with +18%), followed by the US, which was up nearly +7%, and Korea +2%.

Analysis based on the European patent filings 2013-2014 (Direct European filings under the EPC and international filings under the PCT)
The filings have been allocated to the country of residence of the first-named applicant.
Figures are based on data from the EPO and WIPO (for PCT filings) as available on 26/01/2015. The PCT filings for 2014 are therefore estimates.
EPO: the 38 member states of the European Patent Organisation, including EU28

Analysis based on the European patent filings 2014-2013 (Direct European filings under the EPC and international filings under the PCT)
The filings have been allocated to the country of residence of the first-named applicant.
Figures are based on data from the EPO and WIPO (for PCT filings) as available on 26/01/2015. The PCT filings for 2014 are therefore estimates.
EPO: the 38 member states of the European Patent Organisation, including EU28